Χαῖρε, !
Congratulations! You have been accepted to participate in Living Greek in Greece High School. We are very much looking forward to helping develop your knowledge of Ancient Greek, and to spending some time getting to know you in the Land of the Muses this summer.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO GREECE
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Participants should plan to arrive in Athens on July 12th and depart on July 26th.
Traveling Independently
Students traveling independently should make arrangements to arrive at Elefthérios Venizélos Athens International Airport on July 12th between 7:00am and 5:00pm. An Institute staff member will meet each student after he or she clears customs, and will accompany him or her to our housing. Please indicate your flight information on our travel form to facilitate pick-up at the airport. At the end of the program, students who will not be traveling on the chaperoned group flight will need to book a flight that leaves Athens between 10:00am and 2:00pm on departure day, July 26th, to take advantage of the included airport transfer. Students whose flights depart earlier than 10:00am will need to arrive at the airport independently, though Paideia can help them book a taxi.
N.B. Most airlines offer chaperoning services for unaccompanied minors on international flights. For more information on obtaining a chaperone to accompany you through customs, please contact your airline.
Paideia Chaperoned Flight
The Paideia Institute will book a staff member as a chaperone on a flight to and from Athens via New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Students may book their own ticket on the chaperoned flight, but this is optional and must be booked by the student. Paideia does not book student flights.
The information for the group flight is below. If you would like to travel on the group flight, please indicate this on the travel form and book your ticket for the following flights. You will receive detailed information by email in June about where to meet the chaperone, their contact information, and the procedures for arrival day.
LGiGHS Group Flight information
- NYC (JFK) to Athens: American Airlines Flight AA 334, departing Saturday, July 11th at 5:25pm
- Athens to NYC (JFK): American Airlines Flight AA 333, departing Sunday, July 26th at 3:55pm
The name of the flight chaperone and their Delta flight confirmation number is listed below.
- Roberto Salazar, Chaperone for JFK to Athens: American Airlines Flight AA 334, departing Saturday, July 11th at 5:25pm. Confirmation code is: HXVJIO.
- Aminata Hughes, Chaperone for Athens to JFK: American Airlines Flight AA 333, departing Sunday, July 26th at 3:55pm. Confirmation code is: UNJFLE.
In-Person Drop Off and Programming for Families
Families may also drop their children off in Athens in person on July 12th. Specific dropoff information will be provided later in the spring. If you plan to drop off your child in Athens, please consider joining our LGiGHS Director for a parent aperitivo the evening of July 12th. More details about this will be shared before the start of the program.
For Students Coming from Living Latin in Rome High School
Students who enroll in both Living Latin in Rome High School and Living Greek in Greece High School will travel from Rome to Athens on a Paideia Chaperoned Flight listed below. Please book a seat for your child on this flight if your child plans to enroll in both programs.
- Rome to Athens: ITA Airways 720, departing Sunday, July 12th at 8:25am
The name of the flight chaperone and flight confirmation number is listed below.
- Aminata Hughes, Chaperone for Rome to Athens: ITA Airways 720, departing Sunday, July 12th at 8:25am. Booking reference number is: YCZSYP
IMPORTANT: Please do not book non-refundable travel before the deposit deadline of April 1st, 2026. We will confirm on April 2nd whether enough students have enrolled to run the program.
WHAT TO PACK
The atmosphere of the program is relaxed and informal, and Greece is hot in July. Cool summer clothing is essential. Bring a hat, plenty of sunscreen, and sunglasses. Linens, towels, and pillows are provided, but you should bring your own beach towel. Greece uses type C and F electrical outlets, so make sure to bring a suitable travel adapter to charge your electronic devices. We will change hotels several times, so please try to avoid overpacking.
We recommend a good hat (a broad-brimmed one is preferable to a baseball cap), plenty of sunscreen, and a good pair of UV-protective sunglasses. Most importantly, please bring a refillable water bottle. It's very easy to get dehydrated during a Greek summer. Many students have found it helpful to pack hydration powder packets (Liquid IV, Ultima, etc.) to stay hydrated and keep energy levels up.
Please pack appropriate attire. While shorts and t-shirts are fine on most days, some of our site visits include trips to churches, where visitors must wear clothing that fully covers knees and shoulders to be allowed entrance (e.g. trousers or long skirts and shirts with sleeves). Some visitors bring a light shawl that can be thrown over the shoulders or tied around the waist as needed. Students will not be permitted to wear t-shirts with offensive statements or inappropriately short or tight-fitting clothing.
Come prepared with a swimsuit and beach towel! We will head to the beach to escape the heat at least once during the program. If you aren’t a swimmer, rest assured that there will be a cool spot to relax and enjoy the view.
Bring good, strong shoes. We will be walking regularly and frequently as we learn about Greece. Much of this walking will be on cobblestones, but will also include dusty walkways, uneven flagstones, and low stone walls when visiting archaeological sites. Your feet will thank you if you do this walking in sturdy sneakers or cross trainers.
Students will have an opportunity to do laundry halfway through the program, and laundry detergent will be provided. We encourage you to pack light!
Spending money. In our experience, the amount of spending money that students typically spend on souvenirs and other extras rarely goes above 100-150 euros. The easiest way to get euros is to take them out of an ATM or to bring them with you. Museum gift shops will accept credit cards as well. Please remember to inform your bank that you’ll be traveling to avoid any issues with account locks for unrecognized transactions.
You can view a packing and travel suggestions list here.
INFORMATION ABOUT LIFE IN THE PROGRAM
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Books And Course Materials
The course organizers will provide you with a packet with all necessary readings and assignments.
We also recommend Logeion which offers free access to a digital version of the Liddell Scott and Jones’ authoritative Greek Lexicon.
Academic Preparation
While we do not expect participants to have had any prior experience with Greek, we do request that students familiarize themselves with the Ancient Greek alphabet before arriving. This online resource will be sufficient.
Students will be grouped by experience with Greek, so those who have already learned some Greek will also be challenged in the program. If you already know some Greek and want to make progress before the program, we recommend that you memorize as many words as possible from the Dickinson College Core Greek Vocabulary list. Challenge yourself by trying to memorize all 500 words!
You will also get more out of the program if you have a basic background in Ancient Greek history, culture and mythology. To bone up before the program, we recommend the following books:
- The Greeks: History, Culture, and Society by Ian Morris and Barry Powell
- Mythology by Edith Hamilton
STUDENT LIFE
Housing, Facilities, And Food
During the first week of the program, students and teachers live together and attend classes in the center of Athens at the modern Philippos Hotel. Students will be housed in twin or triple rooms and will be supervised at all times by the program’s teachers.
During the second week of the program, students will be housed in twin or triple rooms at the Liberty Hotel in Nafplio. Classes are held in air-conditioned classrooms at an educational center located next door to the Liberty Hotel in Nafplio. Students will travel to some of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, including Corinth, Nafplio, Epidaurus, and Delphi. Students will return to Athens for the final night, July 25th, and will stay at the Arion Hotel. A more detailed itinerary will be provided to families before the start of the program.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided daily for the duration of the program, either at the program hotels or in local restaurants. The housing facilities are equipped with wireless internet.
No overnight guests are allowed in Institute housing. If friends or family visit, please arrange for them to stay elsewhere.
Housing is available from July 12th to the 26th. If you plan on arriving in or leaving Athens before or after these dates, you will need to arrange your own accommodation.
If you have any specific housing needs, we will do our best to accommodate them. Please write to [email protected] with any considerations. Dietary restrictions will, of course, be respected as well.
Health, Well Being, And Insurance
Medical care in Greece is first-rate and, should the need arise, the Paideia Institute can call a physician for a house call or bring a student to a doctor or hospital. All participants must have their own health insurance covering them internationally during the full duration of their time in Greece. If you do not have health insurance that covers you while in Greece, the Student Travel Protection plan available below provides adequate coverage.
If you are taking medication, be sure to bring enough for your entire stay. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Greece, but not all drugs are readily accessible without a prescription, and it is better to bring one’s own supplies.
If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to participate, we strongly urge you to share that condition with us ahead of time. This way, in the event of a medical issue, we can more quickly and efficiently arrange for your care. All such information will be held in the strictest confidence.
Staying In Touch
Non-urgent messages to the Institute’s main phone number (609) 429-0734 will be returned within 48 hours, and emails to [email protected] will be responded to more quickly. In case of true emergencies, a member of the Paideia core staff may be reached at +39 351 399 1291 at any time, day or night. Please remember that Greece is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Please try to avoid calling after 11pm Greek time except in emergencies.
We invite all admitted students and their parents to log in to their Paideia Institute accounts to access the Living Greek in Greece High School 2026 enrolled students page, where students and parents can view the student roster and access important forms and information. Families can also join the LGiGHS 2026 WhatsApp group to contact other admitted students and parents before the start of the program by visiting this link.
Supervision, Behavior And Exploring
Paideia Institute instructors live together with students and serve as dorm monitors. As stated in the Code of Conduct, students are not permitted out alone at any time. During designated free time, students are permitted to explore certain areas of the places we visit for a set period of time (usually about an hour) in groups of 3 or more. A lights-out policy of 11pm is in place for the duration of the program.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizens do not need to apply for a visa to participate in this program, though they will need a passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, you should begin the application process as soon as possible, as it can be a lengthy process. Students who are not U.S. citizens may need a visa. To determine your visa requirements, please refer to the nearest Greek Consulate's website.
POLICIES
CANCELLATION POLICY AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
Once paid, the $500 deposit is non-refundable. Participants who withdraw from the program after the balance deadline (May 1st) will be given a credit for the amount of the balance (but not the deposit). There are no refunds for students who withdraw from the program.
Travel insurance may help protect your investment in this program in the event that something prevents you from coming. A Student Travel Protection Plan is available for this program through Travel Guard. For coverage information and to purchase this insurance, please visit this link. Please contact Travel Guard at 866-385-4839 with any questions.
There are no refunds in the event that a traveler is unable to travel due to insufficient documentation, such as lack of passport, including lack of passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip, and lack of visa, or due to last minute health issues. For these issues, Paideia recommends travel insurance.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All program participants agree to abide by the Paideia Institute’s Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including removal from activities or, in serious cases, early dismissal from the program. No refunds will be given for expulsion from the program for disciplinary reasons.
PAYMENT
PAYMENT DEADLINES
Non-refundable Deposit ($500) and enrollment form: April 1st, 2026
Remaining Balance ($5000): May 1st, 2026